I recently bought a 1983 XLT with a mildly built 351 and stock suspension with 32x11.50's. Has anybody out there with a similar setup removed the rear antisway bar? It seems that it really sticks down and would be easy to hang up on things while off roading. Will I be really hurting my on road stability? How much of an improvement can I expect in my off road axle articulation?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

yo seth,
here is what Dave did:
Posted on Fri Jan 21 17:22:02 2000

"My 88 Fullsize Bronco is my everyday vehicle and occasional trail vehicle. I wanted to get some more flex on the trail, but I like being able to take highway on ramps at a decent speed. So after a short search for quick dissconnects for the swaybars came I decided no one makes them for our trucks, (or anything but a jeep for that matter) I decided that someone should, so I designed my own...
It all started when I was replacing the rear swaybar bushings after they got mangled on the trail, I used rubber shock bushings (they're the same size) and instead of replacing the stock rusted nut, I used a stainless wingnut and fender washer. I also replaced the upper bolts and nuts with new ones, so they would swing easier, using nuts with nylon locking insterts. I tightened them down just enough so that I could still swing them up, but they would stay up by themselves. The nylon nuts help keep them from loosening each time you dissconnect them. I'm still trying to figure out a good way of strapping the swaybar up out of the way when it's dissconnected. For now, I'm using a bungy cord to pull the top of it back towards the rear. Wrap it around the swaybar over the diff. and hook it to the brake bracket.
The front was a bit trickier... I unbolted the links, and had to pry and pull the swaybar so that the front of it was above the mounting brackets. So that the bar can be swung up and strapped to the frame. (The links will stand in the air when connected.) I used all new bolts again, but replaced the bottom ones with a clevis pin and 2 fender washers/side. To unhook it, just pull the pins, and strap the bar to the frame (again, for now I'm using a bungy cord) Some possible headaches with the front... The lower brackets may need bent a little so that the pin lines up easily. And I think I switched the links from side to side. They have a little twist to them, so you may have to experiment a little.
Overall, not to difficult a project, and very cheap! If anyone has any comments or additional input, I'd be glad to see them! I'm going to test them out on an offroad trip this weekend, so I'll post what I think of them... I have driven a 2wd f-150 without swaybars before, and to me (owner of a Mustang) it felt like it was going to tip over in turns... My Bronco handles much better with both swaybars!!! And I don't think I'd like driving it every day without them."



good luck, al

 

Thanks for the input!! Good luck on the trail with it. I'm looking forward to see how it works. You're right that it seems strange that nobody makes disconnects for the Broncos. Oh well, some day.

 

I read about this one for the front anti sway bar:
Pull the links off, swap them side to side, and turn them over. Position sway bar ends above their respective clevises, and screw it back together.
The rear, well, I guess we steal the above guy's idea and market it through EMAP/Petersen.
Eddie